More credits to transfer or better grades?

I am currently in a small 4 year program(used to be a junior college) and I plan on trying to transfer to a target or semi target next year. I have been getting good grades and have work experience. My question is should I try and finish my associates with around a 3.5 gpa or should I go back and retake a coupe of my classes that are hurting my gpa and just transfer with less credits?

9 Comments
 

If you can get in to your school of choice with your current course load that you have taken, do it. Your GPA is going to start fresh with the new school anyways so busting your butt to get a higher GPA would be a waste if you can get in currently. If you can't get in with your current grades then you'll need to bring it up higher.

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Best Response
Skinnayyy

If you can get in to your school of choice with your current course load that you have taken, do it. Your GPA is going to start fresh with the new school anyways so busting your butt to get a higher GPA would be a waste if you can get in currently. If you can't get in with your current grades then you'll need to bring it up higher.

This nails it. The only reason to try and raise your GPA before transferring would be if you can't transfer in with your current grades. Keep in mind the hurdle may be high for transfer students when it comes to GPA depending on where you're trying to go (the average GPA for admitted transfer students at my school is 3.8).

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I am not able to transfer with my current gpa but what I was wondering if I should bring it up by taking more classes or should I retake 2 classes I didn't do well in and bring my gpa up that way.

 

Mathematically speaking, it will be easier to bring your GPA up by retaking the classes. Let's say, for example, that you have a 3.5 GPA and 60 credits but have the opportunity to retake 2 classes you scored 2.0s in and receive 4.0s vs. taking 2 additional classes and scoring 4.0s.

Math: 603.5 = 210-(62.0)=198+(64.0)=222/60 = 3.7 603.5=210+(6*4.0)=234/66 = 3.545

I'd be happy to explain the math if you need and obviously it would be tough to get a 4.0 in a class you previously got a 2.0 in but the general idea is that you can improve your GPA more by retaking courses in which you received poor grades. This assumes, of course, that those initial grades are wiped when you earn a new grade

 

Not all schools erase the old grades. My school averages the classes, which means retaking an old course has the same affect on your GPA as taking a new course entirely. For example an F in a 3 hour calculus class (0.00 GPA for 3 hours) would be averaged with an A in a retaken calculus class (4.00 GPA for 3 more hours) yielding a 2.00 GPA weighted as 6 hours.

But, if your school removes grades from any classes that are retaken, it is obviously advantageous to get those grades wiped. Long story short, maximize your GPA. Talk to an academic advisor about how GPA is calculated at your school.

Listen, here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.
 

Actually, I think the cap of transfer credits for most schools is 60 in that if you transfer in 66 credits and the degree requirement is 120 credits, you will need to take 60 credits worth of classes at the new school in order to meet the residency requirement for a degree or a degree with honors (i.e. Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude) depending on the school.

 

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